Grimes’ long-awaited new album, Art Angels, is coming any day now, and ahead of its release, the Canadian art-pop performer premiered its lead single Flesh, Without Blood right here on SiriusXMU (Ch. 35). The new album follows up 2012’s Visions and sees Grimes (aka Claire Boucher) moving away from “cathartic, but victim-y” themes and into “something strong and aggressive,” which is more reflective of her these days.

In celebration of releasing a new song into the world, Grimes called in to chat with SiriusXMU host Jenny Eliscu about why she chose Flesh, Without Blood to introduce the Art Angels, what you can expect to hear on it and her writing process this time around.

“I think for me it was very important that it just that it was a definite step forward from Visions,” she said about choosing a lead single. “I’ve really worked past [Visions] technically and artistically. But [it was also important] that it was something super Grimes-y and no one else produced it. Like I feel like Go [with Blood Diamonds] or Entropy [with Bleachers] and whatever — like I love the songs and I’m really good friends with those guys — but it’s really important that the first single is my song and I produced it.”

She went on to talk about her recording process, noting that she began making Flesh, Without Blood right before her song Go came out and made the rest of the album “within the last year.”

“Once I put REALiTi out, I just puked up a bunch of songs like right there.”

Jenny brought up a prediction Grimes had made about her new material likely having a gothic, country, techno sound and asked whether we can expect those influences on Art Angel.

“I feel like every song is pretty different,” Grimes explained. “Although there are definitely some gothic, industrial, country-type songs on this record. I felt every song had to be really really distinct. I didn’t want to be repeating myself on the record.”

Speaking of Flesh, Without Blood in particular, she said it was her “emo song” for the album.

“It might actually be one of the most personal songs on the record,” she revealed. “It’s a song for a former best friend of mine. You know, we’re not really best friends anymore. It’s kind of angry and kind of sad — just [about] being really disappointed in someone who you really once truly admired.”

Tune in to SiriusXMU (Ch. 35) to hear Flesh, Without Blood for yourself!